Week #2 - Aug 19-24

August 19 - 24th, 2024

The scrimmage this morning was excellent!

I didn't realize just how good until I finished entering and compiling the results a few minutes ago.

But first - thanks so much to the parents for bringing food and drinks for the potluck following. That was fun and I really appreciate the parents being there to support your athletes and to socialize following the scrimmage.

I expected all the food to disappear in a post-scrimmage hunger frenzy, but apparently the runners appetites were suppressed, as there was a lot remaining.

Cross Country is a difficult sport. It requires a lot of hard work and discipline. To make it appealing to more students and grow the team, it is import to highlight the rewards of running and the fun the team has. These social events go a long way towards that.

On to those highlights!

• All eight boys who ran last year and this improved! The average improvement was 31 seconds.

• Seven of the eight girls who ran last year and this improved. That average was 37 seconds!

• The biggest boys improvement was 80 seconds by Owen!

• The biggest girls improvement was 107 seconds by Milla!

• The average time of the top 5 boys improved by 34 seconds - from 10:46 to 10:12!! (Will didn't run the scrimmage last year. Even if removed from this years times to equalize, the boys improved by 27 seconds!)

• The average time of the top 5 girls improved by 24 seconds! (If you include Lindsey's time last year, even though Lindsey wasn't allowed to race at State, the girls still improved by 4 seconds.)

• The improvement in the average of the top 7, so important for depth, was an even larger 46 seconds for the boys and 24 seconds for the girls

These stats may improve further when absent runners do the TT on Monday.

See the full results with lap splits here!

Review your splits. They can be very instructive!

• Did you start too fast? (If your second 1000m was more than 10 seconds slower than the first, the answer might be yes.)

• Could you have pushed harder in the crucial middle of the race? (If your third 1000m was faster than your second, possibly.)

Practice 19-24 August - our last 8:00 a.m. practices this summer!

• Monday - Frisco Peninsula Baseball Field - Tempo

• Tuesday - Copper Mountain Alpine Lot - Intermediate Run

• Wednesday - Frisco Peninsula Baseball Field - Hills

• Thursday - SHS Track - Critical Velocity

• Friday - Frisco Peninsula Baseball Field - Pre-Race

• Saturday - Mountain Vista 2-Mile, Highlands Ranch

10 things that bring LIFE to team culture:

• Knowing your why

• Understanding your role

• Service to others

• Empowering each other

• Being ALL IN

• Giving more than expected

• Accountability

• Selflessness

• Training with the TEAM

• Love

8 takeaways from the Paris Olympics that can enhance your running journey

1. The Power of Consistency in Success

Consistency separates the good from the great. Benson Kipruto's marathon journey from 2016 to 2024 is a masterclass in how steady, persistent effort leads to success. From victories in Prague and Boston (back then, running a 2:10 and 2:09) to his latest win in Tokyo at 2:02, Kipruto proves that unwavering consistency is the key to long-term success in running.

2. Tailor Your Approach: Adapt Training to Your Goal

Every cross country race is unique, and success lies in adapting your training to meet the specific demands of each race. American runners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young exemplified this by tailoring their training to the challenging Olympic marathon course, coming close to matching their Chicago PRs despite the tougher conditions. Their success highlights the importance of a customized approach to race preparation.

3. Believe in Yourself: The Cornerstone of Overcoming Challenges

Confidence is crucial in running. Whether you're facing doubt from others or overcoming personal challenges, self-belief is the foundation of success. Athletes like Grant Fischer and Kenneth Rooks showed us that believing in yourself, even when the odds are against you, can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

4. Dedication Yields Personal Fulfillment: Invest Your Effort

Success in running isn't just about winning; it's about giving your best effort. Emily Sisson quoting on Instagram “The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well” teaches us that, whether at peak performance or not, personal fulfillment comes from knowing you've done your best. Dedication, even in challenging circumstances, leads to a deep sense of personal accomplishment.

5. Focus on What You Can Control: Let Go of the Rest

In both running and life, focusing on what you can control while letting go of what you can't is essential for success. Weather, course difficulty, and other unforeseen challenges are part of the journey. Concentrating on your preparation and mindset will set you up for success, no matter the conditions.

6. Bad Days Are Part of Life: One Race Doesn't Define You

Eliud Kipchoge, a marathon legend who ended up not finishing the Olympic Marathon this year, reminds us that one race doesn’t define your career—it's the overall journey that counts. Setbacks are inevitable. What truly matters is your consistent effort over time and the legacy you build.

7. Be Present in the Moment: Savor the Journey

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘The Present.'" In running, being present and enjoying the journey is just as important as the outcome. Clayton Young and Conner Mantz both emphasize the importance of savoring each moment, whether in training or on race day.

8. Practice Gratitude: Remember the Support That Got You Here

Running success is a team effort. From cheering crowds to the support of coaches, friends, and family, gratitude for the support you receive enriches your experience as an athlete. Remember, every victory is sweeter when you acknowledge the team that helped you get there.

Posted on SportsYou, but repeated here in case anyone missed:

It's Question and Answer time!

The Parent's (and Student's) meeting will be Tuesday, 27 August at 5:15 after practice. Probably in the SHS library. I'm waiting until then because I know some new families aren't here until school starts.

I also know some of you already have questions!

Please send your questions to me - via text, email, SportsYou chat or a comment here. If you have the question, mostly likely others do as well.

Here are a couple recent questions.

1. Is there bus transportation to the Vista 2-Mile on 24 August?

Yes! And there will be bus transportation, pending availability, to all of our away meets. Details for each meet - bus departure time, drive time, race times (when/once I know them), course maps, everything I can get, are on each race page. For instance the Vista 2-Mile.

Since we are on it, team members SHOULD ride the bus to meets. (Barring extenuating circumstances like the meet is in Denver and you are already going to be there.) Team members are REQUESTED AND ENCOURAGED to ride the bus back to Summit, because of the team bonding and camaraderie developed over stops for food (when we do) and discussing the races.

Team Members are also strongly requested to stay at meets at least until the awards ceremony and until we can have a post-race team huddle.

2. I would like to host a pasta party. What should I provide and for how many?

My main suggestion is to ask for tips from parents that have previously hosted. Hosts generally provide the pasta. (If I recall right, we usually went through 5 to 6 pounds last year. Maybe more this year as the team is a bit bigger. Yeah!)

Most team members attend. Hosts can provide more if they like - drinks, salads, etc.

I ask half of the team to bring side dishes - vegetables, fruit trays, chips, desserts (we usually get a lot of desserts), etc. every other time. Looking at the roster, that will probably be last names A - K and L - Z.

If you would like to host a pasta party, please sign up here.

3. Are parents invited to the pasta parties?

That is up to the host. I encourage it, and if you would like parents to attend, please explicitly tell me and I will make sure it is publicized. We haven't had a lot of parents attend, even when invited. I hope parents will feel comfortable if invited and attend if you can.

4. Do you have a list of FAQs? (That wasn't a question, but I do, so I'm promoting it.)

Yes! Right here! These questions are already added to it!

Repeats

Parent Meeting - Tuesday, 27 August at 5:15pm after practice. Location at SHS tbd, likely the library. Please review the Parent Meeting Notes and Cross Country Handbook prior, and come with your questions. I will discuss the competition schedule, expectations, post-season competition, the "PTO" policy and more.

NXR – 23 November. Parents are looking into AirBnBs. Please enter your NXR intentions here, and update with your travel plans later. If you prefer, here are the NXR recommended hotels.

Meet Schedule - The meet schedule is also on the website and directly here. Go to the second page for locations and heat times.

Parental Support – really adds an important element to the team. There are opportunities to support the team by providing Chocolate Milk, hosting a Pasta Party, bringing snacks to meets and helping at the Summit Stinger.